Pivotal mounting for horizontal cutter bar and drive means for the chain supported thereby



NOV. 9, 1954 E 5|MM0NS 2,693,951

PIVOTAL MOUNTING FOR. HORIZONTAL CUTTER BAR pND DRIVE MEANS FOR THE CHAIN SUPPORTED THEREBY Original Filed 001'.. 16, 1948 United States Patent() Leon E. Simmons, deceased, late. of Claremont, N., H., by Gladys L. Simmons, administratrix, Claremont, N. H.,

assigner to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application October 16, 1948,V Serial No. 54,895', now Patent No. 2,657,915,v dated November 3, 1953. Divided and this application ctober 24', 1951 Serial No. 252,846

3 Claims. (Cl. 262-30) This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly to the kerf cutting mechanismof a -coal mining' machine of the pivoted cutter bar, longwall type'.

An object of the present invention isy to 'provide an improved kerf cutting mechanism. Another object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of the :pivoted bar, longwall type having an improved pivotal mounting structure for the cutter'bar and improved driving means for the cutter chain. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

This application is a division of a copending application, Serial Number 54,895, led October I6, 1948, and since issued as Patent No. 2,657,915, owned bythe same assignee as the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown 'for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing; y

Fig. 1 is `a plan View, with parts broken away, of a longwall coal mining machine in which an illustrative embodiment of the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the planes of line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing details lof .the kerf cutting mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the releasable interlock between the ringange and shaftgroove.

The coal mining machine in which the invention is embodied is generally designated 1 and, as disclosed in the earlier tiled application, Serial No. 54,895 above Vreferred to, generally comprises a vertically compact machine frame 2 over the yfloor of a mine, and carrying at :its rear end a kerf cutting mechanism 4 yand at its .front end a flex-- ible feeding mechanism 5; said cutting and feeding mechanisms being driven by a motor 6 arranged centrally ou the frame between the cutting and feeding mechanism as shown in Fig. l. While the invention is shown embodied in a longwall type coal mining machine, it will be evident that the same may be embodied in coal mining machines of other types.

The machine frame 2 comprises a rear cutter frame section 7, a front feed frame section S and a central motor frame section 9 and these sections are suitably rigidly united to provide a low compact frame unit structure slidable over the mine door. Pivotally mounted on the cutter frame section 7 on an upright axis at 10 is a horizontal plane cutter bar or jib 11 having a conventional cutter bit or pick carrying cutter chain 12 guided for orbital circulation about its margin. Carried by the feed frame section 8 is a horizontal feed drum 13 on which a feed cable 14 is wound and this cable may be extended from the feed drum into connection with the cutter bar for effecting swinging of the latter about its pivot or in advance of the machine to a suitable anchor jack to eifect bodily feeding of the machine in an endwise direction along the coal face, all as in fully disclosed in the above mentioned copending application.

Now referring to the detail structure of the kerf cutslidable on .its vbottom 3 for .movement- 2,693,951 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 2, ting mechanism 4, it wilt be motor shaftv 17 (Fig. l); is a bevel-pinion 18 which meshes `with and .drives a large horizontal :bevel gear 19 (Fig.y 2:) which has itsv hub ykeyed at 19" to a vertical tubular .shaft 20. The shaft: 20 is journaled at its upper end on an anti-friction lbearing `herein desirabiy la ro-iler bearing. 21 supported by a. ydetachable top cover plate 22 of the cutter frame, and is, ]`.ournaled intermedate its ends, near its middle portion,` on an anti-'friction :bearing likewise desirably a roller bearing 23 supported :by a circular hearing support or bearing annulus. 24 Vformed integral with :the cutter frame: section land arranged co.- aacial with the shaft 2&1, and' the cutter bar or jub. 11 is. pivotally mounted on 'this bearing support as hereinafter explained. A cap 25, detach-ably secured as by screws to: the cover plate, 22, has .an integral shaft 26 welded thereto at 27 and this plate-shaft extends cen trally' .through the tubular shaft 20 and is threadedly attached at 28 within :a threaded :boss integral with a detachable lower frame portion or .bottom Vplate. 29 of the cutter frame. The .shaft 26T rigidly ties the superimposed top and :bottom plates of `the cutter frame section together., Keyed at 29 .to the lower portion .of the shaft 20 -is a conventional chain sprocket 30 having a hub 30 and this sprocket engages and drives the endless ;curtter chain 12. The lower end of the shaft 20 is annularly grooved at 31 and a split ring or plate 32, secured as by screws to lthe sprocket hub. y30', has av ange 33 fitting `in, this groove to hold the` sprocket against displacement axially of the shaft. The upper end of the shaft 20 is annulariy grooved to receive a conventional spiit Aring 34 which engages the yupper sur face of `the Ainner :race of the .upper roller :bearing 21. The lower end of the hub,` of the bevel gear 19and the upper end of'thelsprockethub abut the :opposed end surfacesof the .inner race of lthe lower roller bearing 23, as shown in Fig- 2. A dirt yseal' 35 carried in a recess; vin the upper portion of ythe tubular shaft 2 0 sealingly engages the. inner shaft "26 to prevent vaccess vof dirt -to the upper roller bearing 21. The bearing support 24' noted that driven by the carries. a similardirt :seal 36 which sealingly engages the. sprocket hub to prevent access .of dirt to the lower roller bearing 23 and .to prevent leakage of lubricant from an -upper frame chamber 37 in which the bevel gears are. arranged. This chamber has an upper wall' provided bythe cover `plate 22 and a lower `wail 3.7".

In 'this improved construction, the bearing support or .annulus 24'supports bearing elements or sleeves 38 (Fig. 2) on `which a 'hub 39 of a hanger frame 44B is swivelcd, and =the cutter bar -1'1 is secured as by screws 40 to and supported by this hanger frame 4to swing horizontally about the 'vertical axis 10 relative to the machine frame. An annular retaining plate 41 is secured as =byscrews 4I tothe bottom 'of the bearing annuius 24 for retaining the yhub of the hanger frame `in position on its bearings. The hanger. frame has an upstanding Iboss 42 Lgrooved at 43 to receive an arcuate guiding ilange`44 on lthe cutter frame. A rotary locking pin 45' is arranged i'n-a boreinthe boss 412 and is groovetl at 46 lto receive the guide vfiange 44 and has a circular body portion which, upon rotation of the pin, is receivable in any one of three spaced notches 47 in the guide ilange 44 for rigidly locking the cutter bar in its different positions to the machine frame. The rotary locking pin and grooved boss structure does not per lse enter into the present invention and is fully disclosed in the copending application above referred to. The feed cable 14 is attachable to this locking pin for eifecting swinging of the cutter bar 11 on its swivel mounting. From the foregoing, it will be evident that when the motor is running the cutter chain 12 may be rapidly circulated about the margin of the cutter bar 11 through the bevel gearing 18, 19, the vertical shaft 20 and the chain drive sprocket 30. As disclosed in the above mentioned copending application, a releasable clutch is arranged between the motor shaft and the bevel pinion 18 so that the cutter chain may remain idle during running of the machine motor. Since the manner of use of the mining machine is fully disclosed in the above mentioned copending application further description thereof is herein unnecessary.

As a result of this invention an improved kerf cutting mechanism is provided especially designed for use with a pivoted bar, longwall type coal mining machine having novel pivotal mounting means for the cutter bar and improved driving means for the cutter chain. The improved shaft structure coaxial with the bar pivot provides an extremely' rigid reinforcing means for the cutter frame and the improved relation of the cutter chain driving means with this coaxial shaft results in a structure which is extremely vertically compact. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a mining machine a frame having an upper frame portion providing a horizontal chamber having parallel upper and lower walls, and a parallel lower floor engaging portion, said lower wall of said chamber having a depending circular bearing supporting portion, a horizontal cutter bar projecting laterally from said frame and having its inner portion arranged between said upper and lower frame portions, a hanger frame swivelly mounted on and entirely swivelly supported by said circular bearing supporting portion, said cutter bar having an endless cutter chain guided thereon for orbital circulation, a driving gear arranged in said chamber, a vertical tubular drive shaft secured at its upper portion to and driven by said gear, bearings respectively supported by said upper wall and said circular bearing supporting portion and spaced axially of said shaft for journaling the latter for rotation, said shaft supporting said gear and having its lower end portion extending freely downwardly axially through said circular bearing supporting portion below the latter without contact with said lower frame portion, a chain sprocket secured to the lower free end portion of said shaft for driving said cutter chain, said sprocket being supported entirely by said shaft below said circular bearing portion and spaced above said lower frame portion, a rigid tie shaft secured at its ends to said upper wall of said upper frame portion and to said lower frame portion and extending axially through said tubular shaft, and a detachable retaining plate secured to the bottom of said circular bearing supporting portion for retaining said hanger frame in swivelly supported position on said circular bearing supporting portion, said chain sprocket having a hub and said retaining plate surrounding the upper portion of said hub.

2. In a mining machine, a frame having an upper frame portion providing a horizontal chamber having parallel upper and lower Walls, and a parallel lower oor engaging portion, said lower wall of said chamber having a depending circular bearing supporting portion, a horizontal cutter bar projecting laterally from said frame and having its inner portion arranged between said upper and lower frame portions, a hanger frame swivelly mounted on and entirely swivelly supported by said circular bearing supporting portion, said cutter bar having an endless cutter chain guided thereon for orbital circulation, a driving gear arranged in said chamber, a vertical tubular drive shaft secured at its upper portion to and driven by said gear, said device shaft having an annular groove on the lower portion thereof, bearings respectively supported by said upper wall and said circular bearing supporting portion and spaced axially of said shaft for journaling the latter for rotation, said shaft supporting said gear and having its lower end portion extending freely downwardly axially through said circular bearing supporting portion below the latter Without contact with said lower frame portion, a chain sprocket secured to the lower free end portion of said shaft for driving said cutter chain, said sprocket being supported entirely by said shaft below said circular bearing portion and spaced above said lower frame portion, a rigid tie shaft secured at its ends to said upper wall of said upper frame portion and to said lower frame portion and extending axially through said tubular shaft, and a detachable circular retaining plate received at its inner peripheral portion within said annular groove on the lower portion of said tubular drive shaft and secured to said sprocket for retaining said sprocket against downward axial displacement from the free lower end of said drive shaft.

3. In a mining machine, the combination comprising a frame having parallel horizontal top and bottom frame portions, a rigid tie shaft extending vertically between said frame portions and rigidly secured thereto for tying said frame portions together, said frame having an intermediate parallel frame portion spaced from said top frame portion and having a depending annular bearing supporting portion, a hanger frame swivelly mounted on said bearing supporting portion to swing in horizontal planes relative thereto, a horizontal plane cutter bar carried by said hanger frame, an endless cutter chain guided for orbital circulation about the margin of said cutter bar, driving means for said cutter chain comprising a vertical tubular drive shaft coaxial with and surrounding said tie-shaft and having a depending free lower portion extending downwardly through and below the bottom of said bearing supporting portion, a driving gear secured to the upper portion of said drive shaft and arranged in the space between said top frame portion and said intermediate frame portion and a cutter chain drive sprocket secured to the lower portion of said drive shaft below said intermediate frame and bearing supporting portions, detachable retaining means secured to said depending bearing supporting portion for holding said hanger frame in position on said depending bearing supporting portion, and detachable retaining means secured to said sprocket and interlocked with said drive shaft for retaining said sprocket in position on said drive shaft against downward displacement axially of the latter.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,815,873 Holmes July 2l, 1931 2,329,837 Jeffrey Sept. 2l, 1943 

